Can Megestrol Acetate Induce Thrombosis in Advanced Oncology Patients Receiving Chemotherapy?

Background: Megestrol acetate (MA) is a steroid origin medicine often used for control of cachexia in oncologicpalliative care. Thrombosis is a common problem in oncology patients. One question is whether MA can causethrombosis. This retrospective, registry-based analysis was therefore conducted to assess thrombotic processes inoncology patients using MA concurrent with chemotherapy. Materials and
Methods: Data on oncology patientsat the metastatic stage using MA were obtained from the archives of our center. Outcomes of patients wereevaluated for thromboembolic events (VTEs) during treatment.
Results: Ninety-seven oncology patients witha median age of 62 (33-84) years were included. During the median follow-up of 17 months, 58 (59.8%) diedleaving 39 (31.2%) still alive. Median overall survival (OS) was 19 months (6-180). Mean time of MA use was 8.69months(±3.53), with a median dose of 160mg (range 160-480mg). Eleven VTEs were detected after MA use, 4 ofthese in pancreatic cancer cases. The patients with thrombosis non-significantly had worse OS, than those withoutthrombosis (p=0.106).
Conclusions: This trial revealed that the 11.3% of all patients developed thrombosis,whohad been treated with MA and chemotherapy concomittantly. There was no statistically significant differenceregarding to occurrence of thrombotic process, among the patients receiving different chemotherapy regimenswith MA concomittantly. Pancreatic cancer seemed to be related to thrombosis rather than MA use.